2/2 It was written for the book 'The Royal Philatelic Society London: Activities in India' edited by Markand Dave and M.S. Santhosh, which was released at the 25th RPSL Regional Meeting at Mumbai on 21 December 2025.

1/2 My latest article seeks to investigate all papers on Indian topics published in the world's premier philatelic journal - 'The London Philatelist' - from its inception in 1892 to 2025. https://t.co/qBtm8fRdJF

3/ And you can read the full unabridged version online on my webpage: https://t.co/YOK3Do1L1q

2/ ...and his deep insights on the hobby are a treat to read. This almost 16,000-words comprehensive, far-reaching interview had to be cut down to about 9,500 words for print. If you are a subscriber to the PLR, you can read the print version here: https://t.co/O1Z0uegTsi.

1/ My latest interview is with Chris King and it has been published in the latest Fall/Winter 2025 issue of the Philatelic Literature Review. The multifaceted Chris King is arguably the most recognised and influential living philatelist. His candid disclosures about his life..

Deep diving into both the Ps - philately and postal history - can be so much fun! My latest blog post uses the example of the 6 pies 8 annas stamp of British India (1867-74) to illustrate how. https://t.co/L3ynHfBx1M

My latest article is on the auction of the philatelic library of Yves Vertommen of Luxembourg held in June 2025. It can be read online. https://t.co/iAq28pKAcv

Happy to have won the 2025 Thomas F. Allen ( https://t.co/SFMzduQwWx) award for the best article to appear in the PLR during the previous year. It was on one of philately's greatest bibliophiles - Frank Bellamy - and his catalog. It can be read here: https://t.co/etL8JwOVKe

2/2 I also look at the one occasion in October 1839 when he actually justified his lofty reputation - taking Indian mails from Alexandria to Malta on the Egyptian Pasha's steamer, Generoso. https://t.co/gS2cWc0kNG

1/2 In my latest post, I delve into the 'other side' of Thomas Waghorn, the most important personality in the development of the 'Overland Route' between the East and the West.

2/2 Why were they used? What may have caused letters bearing them to be scarce? I specifically focus on letters from India. Read my article here: https://t.co/uz7tqHxx7O

1/2 Sometimes postal historians need to theorise since there is hardly any primary data available. That's what I have done in my latest article on the Southampton Packet Letter stamp used from the mid-1840s into WWI.

My short article on an Ambulance Envelope which forwarded a much-damaged cover recovered from the wreck of the steamship Ava in February 1858. It is possible that this was the first occasion when an ambulance envelope was used to forward a wreck cover. https://t.co/8eXCyfHHBg

4/ If you do not have access to either of these, you read the piece online on my Substack: https://t.co/uhPDUVFeR9

3/ In writing this, I have received help in writing this from my fellow philatelic literature specialists as well as Japanese philatelists. Hence, it is apt that this article was published in cooperation with both the journals.

2/ The Enkakushi is one of the most beautiful pieces of philatelic literature ever published. Given that it contains originals (and some reprints) of actual Japanese stamps, it appeals to both bibliophiles and stamp collectors.

1/ I am happy to announce that my article 'The Enkakushi of Japan and its Imitations' has been published in the Quarter 3 issue of the Philatelic Literature Review and the Quarter 4 issue of Japanese Philately.

3/3 The second is probably more valuable. The only Waghorn cover known from the island of Macao. Again sent via Bombay, its start was a more reasonable HKD 35,000. It went for HKD 96,000 (USD 12,350) including the 20% premium. Compared to the first, seems like a bargain.

2/3 The first was one of six from China via Bombay and went for a mind boggling HKD 230,000 (or $29,600) including 15% buyer's premium. The start was HKD 120,000 and a phone bidder clinched the deal.

1/3 Two spectacular Waghorn covers sold in Spink China's auction last week on 25 and 26 October 2024.